I Do
Disclaimer: All things related to Angel and Buffy are owned by Joss Whedon Yada yada yada. If I owned then Angel would be human and happily married to Buffy. And Riley? He'd already be dead by now.
Rating: I'm not sure, it only contains mild cursing etc
Feedback: Would be very much welcomed.horse_lover_247@hotmail.com
" I can't believe it. I'm gonna get married!"
Buffy paced the floor of the wedding dress shop. She wore the most beautiful dress; Angel had insisted on the shop's finest.
She pivoted in front of the mirror to get a better look of the back. As she smoothed down the crinkles she found herself wondering if Angel would like her in it.
Willow who was herself trying on her own dress turned to Buffy and smiled. " You look great"
" You do too Will" Buffy said as she stepped back to admire Willow's dark red satin dress.
Buffy had been with Angel for over 3 years now. They were so perfect for each. Buffy could remember the day that the powers changed Angel into a mortal. In all her life she had never been so happy, things had never felt so right.
And when the day came and Angel proposed she only could say yes. She just wanted to be with him.
Willow spun in her dress and turned towards Buffy.
" I really can't believe that your getting married!"
" Yeah" Buffy said with a lazy smile " God I feel so."
Buffy stopped. There was no way she could describe how she felt. She was nervous, every bride-to-be was entitled to be nervous, and she was excited. She would be spending the rest of her life with the man she loved; her Angel.
" So happy" she finished and smiled broadly
" Hey I bet Angel looks really yummy in tucks" Willow added
Buffy really smiled this time and Willow felt so pleased for her friend.
Buffy turned back to the mirror and for the rest of the day she could think of nothing but Angel wearing tucks.
Angel hurried in from outside where it was pouring down with torrential rain. This was supposed to be Sunnydale.
" Buff?" he shouted through the flat.
The flat that they had bought together not long after he was changed. Angel loved living with Buffy. He loved walking up with her every morning, to be with her every night.
" Hang one sec" a voice came from the bedroom.
Angel took of his wet jacket and hung it on the rack before he settled himself down on the couch.
" Angel come here a sec" Buffy shouted again.
Angel stood and made his way towards the bedroom.
" Close your eyes" Buffy instructed him before he could enter. Angel remembered the last time he had done that for her, she had sent him straight to hell with a sword through his stomach and a great pain through his heart. However Angel did not once blame Buffy for that. She had to do it, to save the world.
Angel did as he was told and Buffy opened the door.
" Okay open" she said
Angel did. And Buffy stood before him wearing her wedding dress that they had seen in the window together.
" Do you like?" she asked him sheepishly
Angel moved forwards and pulled her into his embrace. He planted little kisses down the side of her neck.
" I love" Angel replied and leaned into kiss his bride.
When they broke Angel stepped back and took one good look at the dress." You look beautiful"
Buffy looked up at him. " Thank you. away mister when do I get to see yours?"
Angel smiled. " Oh I think you'll just have to wait" He lifted her up like a newly wed couple would do on their honeymoon.
Buffy wrapped her arms around his neck. " Watch the dress" she giggled
Angel raised his eyebrows. " Don't we have to wait until after the wedding?"
Buffy caught his gaze and stopped him. " Don't" she started as she remembered what she had said to him on their special night a long time ago. " Just kiss me"
Angel did. He didn't need to be told twice.
" Hey Angel. Your turn for the next round" Xander told him as he arrived from the bar.
" Sure" Angel nodded. The drinks were already set on a tray, as Xander had ordered, and Angel pointed to the drinks and the bartender rushed over to the till.
Moments later he returned and started dispersing drinks. This was the men's night before the wedding, which would be happening in two days now.
Giles, Xander and Spike sat in front of him. There always seemed to be more women in the scooby gang then men. Wesley however was running late.
Angel went back to the bar to collect his change and Xander joined him.
" Ermm. Angel there is something I have to say before the wedding" Xander began " I know I haven't been best friends with you when it comes to Buffy and well because it's the wedding and all that" He said and extended his arm
Angel shook it and placed his other arm on Xander's. " Thanks. It means a lot to me"
Xander nodded and went back to the table.
Angel turned to follow when his cell phone rang. " Yeah" Angel answered. " Wesley?"
" Angel I'm outside I need some help with my car. Can you spare a few minutes?" Wesley asked
" Sure thing. I'll be right down" Angel replied and ended the conversation. He turned to Giles and told him were he was going and took an exit down the stairs.
Angel spotted Wesley's car parked on the sidewalk. He moved towards it and opened the door.
" Hey Wesley. What's up?"
Wesley looked up. " Angel you have to alert the others"
Angel looked puzzled. " What?" From behind him someone grabbed his jacket and flung him against the wall. Angel looked up and focused on his attacker.
A young man turned to face him and pointed a gun directly at him. "Angel"
"Oh god Riley"
" Hey all" Buffy said as she entered Willow's place. The girls were all there, Willow, Tara, Anya and Cordelia.
" Hey Buffy" Tara replied and handed her a drink. Willow appeared from behind " So you've got the choice, restaurant or bar?"
" Whatever you guys think. I'm good" Buffy replied. Willow turned to look at the rest of the group " Bar?"
They all looked at one another and Cordelia answered " bar"
They all moved to grab their jackets and coats and Buffy caught Willow's attention. " I gonna give Angel a quick call ok?"
" Buffy you've only been apart for an hour"
" Quickly?" Buffy pleaded
Willow rolled her eyes and gestured to the phone. Buffy picked it up and started dialling Angel's cell phone number.
" Riley what are you doing here" Angel asked
" Oh I only heard about you and Buffy getting married so I thought I'd pay a visit. Maybe stir up some trouble. Kill oh say. you" Riley replied at he hovered his finger over the trigger.
Wesley opened the car door and knocked Riley in the back of his knees and got out as soon as Riley dropped. Angel was on his feet in an instant, and slammed his shoe into Riley's head, knocking him backwards.
Angel could still fight like he used to, the powers he made sure of that.
Angel advanced on Riley and leaned down to grab him when Riley sent a short sharp kick into his shin sending Angel tumbling over him.
Riley was up and grabbed his gun. Wesley dived into his stomach but Riley lifted up his knee and sent a painful jab into Wesley's own .
Riley turned on his heel to see Angel getting to his feet. He raised the gun " Marry Buffy? Over my dead body"
" Fine if that's the way you want it. I can take you out boy" Angel lowered his tone.
" You're not the one holding the gun" Riley smiled.
Behind him Wesley was rising to his feet but Riley spun quickly and sent him sailing into the car.
" Just you and me" Riley said as he began to advance on Angel
Angel stood his ground. " Riley think about what you're doing"
" I think I have" he replied but was silenced by Angel's cell phone, which lay in front of Riley on the sidewalk. Riley picked it up.
" Angel?" A voice on the other side of the line asked
" Buffy. Nice to finally hear from you"
" Riley.What are you doing with Angel's phone?"
" Well I would say that it's nice to see you too"
" Riley what the hell are you doing" Buffy asked and Riley recognised the alarm in her voice.
" Oh just wishing Angel well" he said as he raised the gun again.
" Oh God" Buffy replied and Riley smiled.
"Riley" Angel said again but it was too late.
The gun blast rung out through the street.
Angel staggered back until he hit the side of the building and slid down it, trailing blood.
Riley hung up on the phone and chucked it towards Angel's bleeding body. He looked up to see Xander, Giles and Spike running towards him. Riley smiled and ran the other way.
Buffy ran up to hospital desk. " Angel Summers?" she asked the women behind the desk. They had used her surname since Angel didn't have one but after the wedding he was probably going to use hers anyway.
" And you are?"
" His fiancé " she replied taking great please in saying it despite the circumstances.
" Down the corridor and on your left" she said before answering the next phone call.
Buffy nodded and made her way down the corridor.
" Xander" Buffy said as she saw Xander leaning against the wall. Wesley stood opposite him.
" Buffy" he replied
" Where's Giles?" she asked him
" He and Spike have gone to get coffee" he replied and then noticing Buffy glance at the closed door added " The doctor's in with him now"
Buffy nodded and turned to Wesley " It was Riley wasn't it"
Wesley nodded " Yes. I only came too when the ambulance arrived. Buffy, he said some things. I mean. he is going to make sure that you don't marry Angel"
Buffy looked at her ex-watcher " Oh yeah well we'll see about that" she turned away from him as the doctor appeared from the door.
" Is he?" Buffy asked
" He's stable. He still hasn't woken up yet but we think that he might pull through but his chances are well. 50-50. We can't honestly make an accurate decision yet. Only time will tell"
Buffy nodded " Thank you"
The doctor turned and walked up the corridor. Buffy slowly opened the door and stepped inside. As soon as she looked at him tears began to trickle down her cheeks. He was so pale and he was attached to a whole mass of tubes.
She slowly moved towards him and pulled up a chair at his bedside. She sat and placed her hand on his and gently kissed his forehead.
" Angel you have to wake up. You don't have a choice in this one. You have someone here who loves you more than the world." She stopped.
Swallowing hard she continued " Everything has finally worked out, you and me, it's all falling together. Angel, please, we're going to get married in two days, you have got to wake-up. I don't know what I would do if I lost you.if. if I can't wake-up to you ever again."
Buffy covered her face with her hand. Between sobs she managed to whisper " I going to hurt Riley so much when I see him, I'll even kill him. oh god Angel please."
Buffy stopped when she heard female voices outside. She dried her face with her sleeve and kissed him softly on the lips. " I love you" she whispered in his ear and slowly stood.
When Buffy shut the door behind her she turned to Giles. " Riley did this I'm going to kill him"
" Buffy please calm down"
" Calm down? How can you tell me to calm down when my lover might die? I'm going to find Riley and kick his ass so hard."
" Buffy" Willow said as she gently put her arm over Buffy's shoulder.
" Sorry. I just."
" Don't. I know how you feel" Giles cut in.
Buffy's cell phone broke the silence
" Hello" she answered
" Lover. I guess you got my wedding present."
" Riley" Buffy said coolly.
" Meet me by the docks in a hour" he said before hanging up.
" What?" Xander asked Buffy.
" Riley. He's just given me a chance to kill him"
" Buffy don't be rash" Giles said
Buffy turned to look at him and walked away. Riley was going to seriously die.
Buffy walked through the silent docks. Nothing stirred after dark down here.
As she walked she noticed a figure standing by the water, it's back facing her.
" What do you want" she said coldly
The figure turned and began to approach Buffy.
" It's nice to see you too."
" Riley quit with the small talk. You hurt my lover, I just want to know what the hell you think that you're doing."
" Oh so you think that I'm just going to let you marry Angel? Well I've got news for you lover."
" Don't call me that"
" I'm sorry to have to do this to you Buffy but I can't let you marry Angel"
" Well I'm sorry if you have issues Riley but you touch him again and I'll."
" What you gonna do. kill me? I like to see you try"
Buffy looked into his eyes. She once loved this man, this man that had shot her lover. She didn't love him anymore, in fact she hated him. In moments she sent a short sharp kill into his crutch and pushed him into the water.
" Next time I'll kill you. but I'm not a murderer."
Buffy opened the door to her flat. It was already late so she didn't bother with food and went straight to her bedroom.
As she got into bed she felt the emptiness of the room.the emptiness of the bed.
" Oh god Angel" she whispered and promptly broke into tears. She closed her eyes and thought of day
She woke. Every inch of her seemed to ache with pain. She couldn't believe that she might lose him.
She opened her eyes and realised that someone was one was lying next to her. She turned.
" Angel!" she cried filling herself into him. He lay next to her, propping himself up by his elbow. " When did you get back?"
" A few minutes ago, I saw you were sleeping. I didn't want to wake you. I awoke just after you left, they kept me in overnight and they said I could go this morning. after all we have a wedding to plan" he leaned over and kissed her.
She kissed him back, gently at first, then it became a little more heated.
She pulled away " I missed you" she whispered. Angel looked at her and removed his leather jacket.
" I was only away for a night" he said raising his eyebrows. She looked back at him.
" This bed gets awful empty." she teased.
Angel smiled and kissed her. He realised that he had nearly lost this young woman that lay in front of him and it hurt him more than the gunshot itself. He wrapped his arms round her, they both giggled and he fell straight into heaven.
" Buffy you look beautiful" Giles remarked as he entered the dressing room
" You don't look to bad yourself.anyway your not supposed to be in here" Buffy turned to look at him, her dress swayed as she moved.
" I know I just what to wish good-luck from all of us."
" Thank you" she said and leaned over to kiss him on his check.
He nodded and turned anyway.
" You ready Will?" Buffy asked her friend who was fussing around her flowers.
" Oh hang on" Willow said dashing into the next from
Buffy smiled. She was going to marry her Angel, it was all she wanted.
" You look prettier than I thought" a voice said from behind her.
" I told you to stay away from us" she said to him
" Riley Finn doesn't take orders" he said approaching her.
He swung a punch but was caught back by someone behind him.
" Oh Riley fancy seeing you here" he said and knocked Riley's head against the wall, he let Riley drop and he fell to the floor, out cold.
" Angel" Buffy ran to her saviour
" It's ok." he stroked her hair " I'm gonna marry you today" he smiled
Buffy kissed him passionately and when they broke he turned away and looked down at Riley. " He shouldn't be too much trouble"
" Angel"
" Yeah"
" You look really yummy in tucks by the way"
He winked at her and walked out the room just as Willow ran back.
" Ok.I'm. What. Riley?"
" Long story" Buffy sighed and took her friend by the elbow.
" I'm gonna get married!"
2 years later.
Angel and Buffy lay next to each other. Each one wondering if the other was awake. Xander and Anya had married not long after them, the whole gang seemed to be moving on. high school seemed a long time ago.
But Buffy was so happy just being with Angel and he just loved her. Every thing they had ever been through was all of the past, but they had loved each other through it all.
" Angel are you awake?" she asked him.
" Yeah" He replied and kissed the side of her head
" I've got something to tell you"
He turned to face her. His face full of worry.
" Is it a good?"
She looked back at him. "Angel. You're gonna be a daddy"
He put his had over her stomach and kissed her deeply.
" That's definitely a good"
END.